HAM RADIO VANITY: QRP Go-Box recommendations

10-13-17

[markomalley]

I'm looking to building a go-box for QRP HF use. The CONOPS for this box would be for weekend use on drives -- to prevent me from going completely crazy while the XYL does some antiquing, shopping for fleas, or painting/sketching some landscapes on weekend getaway trips.

Whatever I do needs to have quite a bit of capability while being compact and quick to set up and tear down. To that end, I'll probably want to mount or store any equipment in a small Pelican case. Looking at some portable solar panels for power (though I'd want the ability to use a small inverter generator or the car battery as well).

I'm open to suggestions on a radio, though I'm really lusting after the Elecraft KX2 or KX3. Anybody have any experience with either of these rigs?

The big question I have is on antenna choice: Buddipole versus remotely-tuned Magnetic Loop. I understand the Magnetic Loop has truly superior performance, but I would be concerned that the ultra-high Q of the antenna would mean that I would need to constantly retune the fool thing even for a couple of kHz shift in frequency. Again, does anybody have experience with either of these antennas?

(I'd typically say use a random wire / counterpoise and a auto-tuner, but I want to be able to VERY quickly set up and tear down in multiple environments, including parking lots, rest areas, and so on)

Any input is appreciated.

73,

[tbpiper]

Your post reads like Swahili to me, but since I’ve just started working on the Technician level test recently, I find it interesting anyway. Hope you find something that works.

[Big Red Badger]

I solved All those problems of a
Go-Box with a Jeep TJ.
As for Shopping for Fleas?
I go Solo.

[Buttons12]

Perfect ditto.
Ham has been on my NYE resolutions list for a while now.

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

Ping

[jack308]

I have a bit of experience with mag loops. See my QRZ page. Good performance without needing height. A band scope is really useful for this type of antenna though. Mine fits in the back seat of my car so it would meet your needs. KD2CFG

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

Ping
Is there a 'HAM ping list' ?
.. or is there sufficient interest in creating one, here ?

[logi_cal869]

Ping

[markomalley]

Your post reads like Swahili to me, but since I’ve just started working on the Technician level test recently, I find it interesting anyway.

LOL (= Laugh Out Loud). I understand that Ham Radio jargon can sound like a completely different language. Here's a quick glossary:

QRP = low power

CONOPS = concept of operations

XYL = wife (YL is shorthand for "young lady" -- unmarried single woman)

High-Q = very tight resonant bandwidth (the "Q" factor is, for discussion purposes, the ratio between the center frequency of a circuit and frequency that is attenuated 3 decibels). A high-Q circuit or antenna is very effective at the resonant frequency but has lower bandwidth; a low-q circuit has a lot of loss at the resonant frequency but has a high bandwidth.

A Random-wire antenna is a length of wire that is intentionally not at resonance at the frequencies you intend to use (I know, it sounds counter-intuitive). With a random wire, you depend upon either your radio equipment or an external tuner to force it to resonance at the desired frequency. The disadvantages are that the antenna has really weird radiation patterns and is obviously inefficient. The advantage is that you can use one antenna to transmit over multiple frequency bands.

A counterpoise is a length of wire that is run either on the ground or close to the ground...they are used with unbalanced antennas to "complete the circuit" and allow transmission.

---

I've been licensed since 1974. It's a great hobby. Good luck with the technican test. Get your General as soon as you can manage it -- the HF bands you can access with the General and Extra licenses are the real heart of the hobby in my opinion.

[mad_as_he$$]

If someone starts a ping list count me in.

[fulltlt]

add me to the Ham radio ping list please.

[stickandrudder]

Add me to the HAM ping list if there is one

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

mad_as_he$$ :" If someone starts a ping list count me in."

I don't know if there is a "Ham" ping list
However, having been through two hurricanes, I know that there is a need for one here, for communications sake.
If there is already a ping list, I would like to know, and who is maintaining the list
Please advise !

[Bobalu]

The BITX40
A 59 dollar 40 meter SSB rig.
NOT a kit...it’s a mostly SM board that is fully built.
You just attach speaker, volume control...etc
You can find the case kit for 20.00 that includes all the finishing touches like spkr, knobs...etc

http://www.hfsigs.com/

The 59$ includes shipping.

The case
https://amateurradiokits.in/product/874/

[Techster]

Bookmark

[Jamestown1630]

There is a ham radio ping list, but I can’t recall who has it.

[Jamestown1630]

I remember now - Mylife had one.

[tbpiper]

Thanks! Looking forward to it.

[tbpiper]

Thanks! Looking forward to it.

[tbpiper]

When the last hurricane squirted through here I thought it was about time to do something that might be useful.